The Best Practice Meeting has become an annual tradition (since 2005) for many Administrators. It gives every attendee the opportunity to discuss their own programmatic challenges with their peers. The primary goals of the meeting are to foster networking, the sharing of resources, and peer-to-peer counseling. Meeting attendees are encouraged to participate in open dialogue, and given the opportunity to provide opinions and ask specific questions. The meeting does not focus specifically on policies and standards governing animal care and use activities, but rather proven practices used to maintain an effective and compliant animal care and use program.

What is the Best Practice Meeting format?

The meetings are facilitated by co-moderators with colleagues from OLAW, the USDA and AAALAC International present to participate in open discussions. Attendance is limited to approximately 40 individuals, and they are seated in a large open circle. This seating arrangement has been proven over the years to facilitate attendee conversation and participation.

The meeting is held over a two-day period with each discussion session being approximately an hour. Networking luncheons are held on both days. Each session is initiated by an attendee’s 10-minute presentation. Immediately following the presentation, attendees, regulators, and AAALAC representatives engage in open discussions.

Co-Facilities

Bill Greer, BS: received his Bachelor’s in Microbiology from Penn State University in 1985. He currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan. His previous roles included Associate Director for Research Compliance at the Pennsylvania State University, and research technician, production manager and Safety Officer at Intervet, State College, PA (Formally Tri Bio Laboratories). In 2005, he organized and held the first IACUC Administrators’ Best Practices Meeting, which establish a venue for administrators meet informally and discuss programmatic concerns. He continues to facilitate at least three annual Best Practice meetings. In 2007, he initiated the process of establishing the IACUC Administrators Association (IAA), which is a professional organization of IACUC Administrators. In 2010, he chaired the founding committee for the non-profit education based IAA organization. He now serves as the president and chair of the IAA board of directors. Since 2007, Bill has served as ad hoc specialist to AAALAC Council where he participates in institutional program reviews, assessments, and status determinations. He served as a member of the Council of Certified Professional IACUC Administrators (CCPIA). He continues to facilitate training activities at multiple venues including PRIM&R, AALAS, BTAA, C3, and both IACUC and IBC Administrators Best Practice Meetings.

Ron E. Banks, DVM: received his veterinary degree from Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and retired a Colonel from the United States Army Veterinary Corps. After postings as the Director, Center for Comparative Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado; and Director, Office of Animal Welfare Assurance at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; he currently serves as the Director, Division of Comparative Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Along his professional journey he has contributed as Council Member on AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation; Chairman of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee; Board Member for the IACUC Administrator’s Association; and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Banks is board certified with the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine; and he is a Charter Diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare.

Guest Facilitators

Eileen Morgan currently serves as the Director, Division of Assurances in the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ms. Morgan previously served as a Senior Assurance Officer in the Division of Assurances within the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). Eileen holds a B.S. in Technology Management from the University of Maryland and an Associate degree in Animal Health Technology. She is a licensed veterinary technologist and an AALAS Laboratory Animal Technologist, RLATG. She has 31 years of experience in animal models-based biomedical research and compliance oversight in the humane care and use of laboratory animals. Her experience includes service as Chief of the Facility Management Branch in the Division of Veterinary Resources, NIH Intramural Program, and positions at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the American Red Cross, Holland Laboratory, Cleveland Research Institute, and Affinity Biotech, Inc. She has served as an IACUC member and IACUC Chair.

Elizabeth Theodorson Assistant Director USDA APHIS Animal Care

Robert S. Sikes, Ph.D. (AAALAC Council member and Wildlife Research Scientist) is Professor of Biology and Director of the Basic Animal Services Unit at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a member of the AAALAC Council on Accreditation, and president of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). His background and research experience is exclusively with wild vertebrates, both in the field and in the lab. His study animals have ranged from shrews to giant pandas with a sprinkling of fish and reptiles thrown in for good measure. Sikes publishes regularly on animal care issues involving wild vertebrates, including as senior author of the last two revisions of the ASM’s Guidelines for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research, has served as a faculty member for PRIM&R and SCAW on wildlife topics, and was co-organizer for the 2011 and 2017 conferences on wildlife oversight.

Meeting Location

Little America Hotel and Resorts, Inc.

2515 East Butler Avenue

Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

Reservations: 800-352-4386

Local: 928-779-7900

Meeting Support

The IACUC Administrators’ Association

OLAW

Lodging

A limited number of rooms at a conference rate of $146 per night (plus the current tax rate of 10.951%) have been reserved for you at the Little American Hotel, Flagstaff. Reservations can be made by directly contacting the Little America at 1-800-352-4386, please reference the IACUC Administrators Association Best Practice Meeting. Hotel reservations can also be made using the following link: https://reservations.travelclick.com/4649?groupID=2575377

Please Note:

You must make your hotel reservation or contact me by July 18, 2019 to secure the conference rate and your spot at the Best Practice Meeting!